Reference: Tribes of Israel
Hastings
The number of the tribes of Israel varied at different periods. The number 12 is an artificial one, as is seen from its application to the descendants of Ishmael (Ge 17:20; 25:13-15), of Nahor (Ge 22:20-24), and of Esau (Ge 36:15-19,40-43). Simeon and Levi were 'divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel' (Ge 49:7) when the tribe of Benjamin arose, so that at that time there would be not 12 but only 11 tribes. Reuben, likewise, in the period of the kings, was an insignificant remnant, and, though mentioned in 1Ch 5:26 as still existing in 734, had apparently become disintegrated long before. As Stade (VI Geschichte des Volkes Israel i. 146) correctly remarks, several of the largest tribes
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Yet as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; o! I have blessed trim and will make him fruitful, and multiply him, exceedingly, - twelve princes, shall he beget, and I will grant him to be a great nation;
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, - Behold! Milcah - she also, hath borne sons, to Nahor thy brother: Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother, - and Kemuel, father of Aram - read more. and Chesed and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, - and Bethuel; And, Bethuel, hath begotten Rebekah, - These eight, hath Milcah borne to Nahor brother of Abraham. And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also, hath borne Tebah and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah.
and these, are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names after their generations, - the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar and Adbeel and Mibsam; and Mishma and Dumah, and Massa; read more. Ha-dad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
Then brake they up from Beth-el, and it came to pass when there was yet a stretch of country, to enter into Ephrath, that Rachel was in childbirth, and had hard-labour in her child-birth. So it came to pass when she was in hard-labour in her child-birth, that the midwife said to her - Do not fear, for this also of thine, is, a son. read more. And it came to pass when her soul was going forth - for she died, that she called his name Ben-oni, - but, his father, called him, Ben-jamin. So Rachel died, - and was buried on the way to Ephrath, the same, is Bethlehem. And Jacob set up a pillar, over her grave, - the same, is - The Pillar of the Grave of Rachel until this day.
These, are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: - The sons of Eliphaz, firstborn of Esau, - Chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, these, the sons of Adah. read more. And these, are the sons of Reuel, son of Esau - Chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah, - These are the chiefs of Reuel, in the land of Edom, these, the sons of Basemath wife of Esau. And these, are the sons of Oholibamah wife of Esau, Chief Jeush chief Jalam, chief Korah, - These are the chiefs of Oholibamah daughter of Anah wife of Esau. These, are the sons of Esau, and, these, their chiefs - the same, is Edom.
These then are the names of the chiefs of Esau after their families, after their places by their names, - Chief Timnah, chief Alvah chief Jetheth; chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon; read more. chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar; chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These, are the chiefs of Edom - after their dwellings in the land of their possession, the same, is Esau, father of Edom.
Accursed, be their anger, because fierce, And their wrath because cruel, - I divide them in Jacob, And I disperse them in Israel.
And it came to pass, after the death of Jeshua, that the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, - Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites, first, to make war upon them?
Then went up the house of Joseph - they also, - unto Bethel, - and, Yahweh, was with them.
And, Solomon, had twelve governors over all Israel, who used to sustain the king and his household, - for a month in the year, was it appointed unto each one, to find sustenance.
And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, for, he, was the firstborn, but because he defiled the couch of his father, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, - and he is not to be enrolled in the place of firstborn, for, Judah, prevailed over his brethren, so that, even the prince, is from him, - although, the birthright, pertaineth to Joseph;
so the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he took them away captive, even the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, - and brought them in unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.